Sherman Webb, 41 of Kingshill who was in 2012, convicted for the murder of Barbadian Corey Rohan Poleon, and later granted a retrial by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) was ordered to be released from prison today on time served.
On May 4, 2021, during a High Court sitting today, the prosecution withdrew its earlier indictment of murder and a lesser charge of manslaughter was read to Webb to which he plead guilty.
According to court information, between August 31, 2009 and March 18, 2010, at Elmshall, Webb unlawfully killed Poleon, a 24- year-old University student of the West Indies (UWI) who had visited Dominica to meet Webb after the men met via the internet.
Poleon’s family members reported him missing following his failure to return home to Barbados.
Webb later on his own free will confessed to Police to killing his “Bajan friend”.
He then led them to a small wooden house in River Claire, Elmshall where Poleon’s mortal remains were found beneath the floorboards.
Following his confession, Webb had maintained his innocence claiming that Poleon came to visit him in August 2009 to conduct an “occult ceremony which involved the summoning of a demon,” which would allow Poleon to receive his own guardian spirit.
He told the court during his 2012 trial that Poleon had returned to Dominica after an initial visit and two days after his arrival, they went up to a small house in Elmshall to conduct the ceremony.
Webb said that during the said ceremony, the Barbadian became frightened which caused him to “step out of the circle” causing a demon to possess him.
He said he chopped Poleon on the neck with a cutlass to force the demon to leave his body and later buried him under the wooden house where they had conducted the ritual after “banishing the spirits.”
When his corpse was discovered, samples of the remains unearthed by the police were taken to Jamaica and Barbados for testing and the remains were confirmed to be those of Poleon.
Investigators reportedly found several items of paraphernalia related to some form of satanic ritual at Webb’s home.
On June 22, 2012, after an eight day trial, a nine member jury handed down a guilty verdict in the matter.
Two weeks later , July 20, 2012, Justice Bernie Stephenson Brooks sentenced Webb to life in prison.
Before sentencing, Justice Brooks labeled the facts of the case as “unusual and unfortunate and bizarre.”
She described the killing of the Poleon as “cold, callous, brutal, calculated and heinous” and stated that the court needed to send a strong message to society that such acts would not be tolerated.
The sentence was later appealed in 2016 and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) quashed Web’s conviction and ordered a retrial.
Webb’s lawyer, at the time, Peter Alleyne, had four grounds of appeal namely, the trial Judge misdirected when she failed to explain to the jury an accident in law; the trial Judge failed to properly address the jury on the law governing self defense; the trial judge failed to address the issue or defense of accident and according to Alleyne, she was biased and prejudiced towards his client.
The ECSC judges, however, dismissed his first ground of appeal and upheld ground two and concluded that the trial Judge gave directions in “a vacuum.”
In 2021 when he entered his guilty plea for the lesser charge of manslaughter, his Attorney-at-Law Kondwani Williams during a plea in mitigation asked High court Judge, Justice Adrien-Roberts to free Webb for the killing on account of time served.
Before handing down her sentence, Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts had ordered a social inquiry report and a psychiatric report by Dr. Griffin Benjamin.
In virtual sentencing today, – February 4, 2022–Justice Roberts said both reports were considered in the construction of her sentence.
She stated judicial authorities suggest a benchmark of 15 years in imprisonment for the offense of manslaughter and in handing down her sentence this will be adjusted to reflect the circumstances for this case.
In establishing a starting point, the judge said she had no reason to deviate from the 15 year benchmark as the deceased lost his life in “bizarre” circumstances.
In adjusting her sentence, Justice Adrien- Roberts said there were no mitigating factors for the offense however for the aggravating factor of the crime, was the fact that Webb hid the body in a remote area where it could not be found, hence one year was added to the 15 year sentence.
In relation to the mitigation and aggravating factors of the offender, the court found that the mitigating factor which served in his favor were, Webbs cooperation and assistance with the police in solving the case, the fact that he was a first time offender and remorseful, as well as, he was viewed as an “advisor” to other inmates at the Dominica State Prison and appeared to be less angry than when he was first incarcerated.
There were no aggravating factors against him therefore, the sentence was adjusted downwards to one year.
His attorney had also asked the court to consider the delays in prosecuting this matter which the Judge considered and afforded him a deduction of three months, his sentence then stood at 14 years and 3 months.
For Webbs guilty plea one third of time which was equivalent to 5 years was also removed from his sentence.
Additionally, the defendant was incarcerated since September 16, 2010, hence for his time spent in custody – 11 years 4 months, and 18 days– time was credited in full.
Webb was subsequently sentenced to time served and ordered to be released from the Dominica State Prison with immediate effect.
So you make the man come to Dominica and meet you to do you know what 😦 after you kill him,
Well now some are wise and some are otherwise.
Wow That’s really something. Could you any denser ? Law is law
To safeguard our children and ourselves we should have a right to know the original nationality of these criminals; since Dominica has been overrun by foreigners. Is “Webb” a Dominica citizen by birth? Most news outlets have been providing such crucial information to the public. Let’s put some real substance in disseminating and publishing news in Dominica. We need to know who is who. Simply issuing the names of criminals of that magnitude is not sufficiently.
Most confusing sentence I have ever read. And first time offender…waw.
When you have killed a human being so brutally (without cause.) I don’t see how you realign yourself in society and be a happy man. When Cain killed his brother Abel, he became a fugitive. I feel sorry for the burden on both the victim’s family and the family of the convicted killer. My advice to the killer is to ask for forgiveness. First, from the Almighty Father who gave us the gift of life. Secondly, reach out to the victim’s family and ask them to forgive you. To the court system in Dominica I say; YOU STINK BADLY.
Sir based on the actus reus and mens rea. There is no eveidence to show that this was the man state of mind at the time of the killing. How do u know for a fact that the man was lurred from Barbados to be killed? Of you had prrof of that you should have given it to the prosecution then smh.
This decision was made by the appeals court. Dominica actually gave the life sentence. Read the article smh
And who made you God?
This could deter some people who were interested in visiting Dominica from following through with desire. Now they are thinking these cult killings are not seen as a big deal. You can leave your safe home to go and visit this place then someone sacrifice you and just do a few years and continue with their life while he took your chance away. The courts is saying this is okay in Dominica law.
This was not a cult killing. This was a flat out premeditated, cold blooded, ghastly murder. The victim cannot speak. The murderer can call it whatever he wants. This merciless killer should be shown no mercy. Should have rot in prison and buried there.
You have my full support on this one. I could not agree with you more.
Lol Dominica has what on average 6 killings a year ? Other places have hundreds or thousands yet people go to those places without fail. Advice: think before you write.
The high Court system and court of appeal are Devils, evil and anti God, the judges shall be judged By God Almighty and will burn in hell for aiding and supporting criminals. The Judgements of God coming for all of all you hyprocrits. Is the High Court and Court of appeal that have the crime rate so high around the world because they don’t believe in the true Almighty Father.
The blood of all those murdered are upon the head and shoulders of the Judges and lawyers who support those killers The gates of heii is waiting for you all. Capital punishment is a must says the Almighty who man think they are to change God’s written Judgement. Bunch of criminals.
Hmmm. Careful what u ask 4.
And you shall not be judged at all. Such hypocrisy is too much. Shut up and pray for your own sins
All praises be to Allah this is why we as Muslims strongly believe that sharia law is superior to all other systems. If this man was under sharia law he would have been beheaded and done away with. There is no justice under pagan democratic ideology.
Islam wicked cult of hasatan.
And blowing people up in the name of Allah is better right?
Lol and your laws have made your homelands a paradise of nutcases who blow themselves up. Wow and Lucifer laughs at us all
The authorities must really review the guidelines for sentencing persons convicted of murder. Perpetrators are getting away, literally, with murder even murder of the most heinous kind.
Herd leader are we? Don’t matter if you’re in front or behind dude.
Wait till the shoe is on the other foot first, never know you may wish the laws were more laxed. Still I’ll say this when will people learn to mind Thier own business ?
Sherman Webbe, convicted in 2012 of murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the said crime in 2021, then released from prison in2022.
Does this inspire confidence in our system of justice? That’s just a rhetorical question. I have long abandoned hope in equal justice with what obtains presently parading as a judiciary.
When a large swath of citizens and residents of any jurisdiction begins to lose confidence in their justice system, vigilante justice and anarchy follow close behind.
With the dishonest, corrupt politicians in power, the calibre of persons as magistrates and judges, we are living in unprecedented times where hope for a better tomorrow is just a fleeting illusion.
Ibo I was thinking like you but you know something, one must always read to understand.
I, therefore, advise you to read two or three times with an open mind and you will understand clearly as I have. Previously I had the same opinion as you now have.
It is bizarre but read and digest slowly and objectively and let me know what you come up with.
I understand everything that I read. This is no manslaughter case , this was premeditated murder.
The police should be trained thoroughly in evidence collection and the prosecutors should be among the best in the Caribbean.
I remember this murder like yesterday. The victim was lured all the way from Barbados to Dominica then murdered. This case was the deliberate slaying of a human being by another human being. This story about cult killing was invented to save the perpetrator from life imprisonment. Stop your condescending foolishness about don’t understand.
So happy that you were there and know all the intricate designs, how is it you never made this devine knowledge known to the prosecution ? Idiots!!
Smh..ikr, they are out in society now planning another murder, one where they will never be found cuz they have learned more levels to do their crime. Lord protect our people out there from those perpetrators. I also pray that they come to know you Lord and accept you as Lord and Saviour . Amen
Lol read the book of James. Wow one minute you curse and judge another human being and the next you pray to God on his behalf and your self righteousness doesn’t seem wrong to you ? Lucifer is laughing again
Sheep should not act like wolves. Stay in the right lane always. Eye 4 eye went out of style long time